Adjustable solenoid operated starting gates



C. E. GUILD Aug. 26, 1969.

ADJUSTABLE SOLENOID OPERATED STARTING GATES 2 Filed April 11. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

s- 6, 1969 c. E. GUILD 3,463,493

ADJUSTABLE SOLENOID OPERATED STARTING GATES Filed April 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I1g 5- 11 L4 1.

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INVENTOR CHARLES E. GUILD ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,463,493 ADJUSTABLE SOLENOID OPERATED STARTING GATES Charles E. Guild, Mount Healthy, Ohio (979 Hempstead Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231) Filed Apr. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 541,784 Int. Cl. A631. 9/14 US. Cl. 273--86 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vertically operated starting gate for a slot car racer. A solenoid acts to move the gate plate downwardly out of contact with the racer upon current being supplied to the racer. The gate plate has adjustable arms that are movable lengthwise of the track to position the racer between them.

This invention relates to a starting gate for slot car racers, which racers are small autos electrically operated by controlled current energizing the electrical motor n the auto through electrical ribbons adjacent to a slot in the track. Each car has a guide bar extending into the slot to guide the car on the track. In the present exemplification only one slot is shown. However, in the track set up there are a plurality of adjacent tracks to provide a track for each car and a number of cars can compete with each other. The tracks may 'be of a continuous formation or be straight away for so called drag races.

This gate is particularly adapted for straight away drag races, wherein a very minute fraction of a second separates the cars at the finish of the race. Therefore it is extremely important that all cars, regardless of construction are aligned at the start with their furthermost projection in line with the other cars. Some cars may have a bumper extending further out than others.

The object of my invention is to provide a starting gate for slot car racers electrically operated and controlled by each individual operator of a car, wherein each car will be in relative position to each other, and when the signal to start is turned on, each operator will energize his particular starting gate to release his car for the race.

A further object is to provide means for holding difierently shaped cars in exactly the same relative position to each other and to the finish line, and to release them at the same instance to a free standing immobile position and then to energize their motors simultaneously.

A further object is to provide means for setting up a circuit to make the gate operative and means for breaking said circuit after said gate has operated.

Further objects will be apparent as the description progresses.

My invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims and from the drawings, in which latter:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a slot car track partly broken away with the gate arms extending through the slot.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken in the plane of the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section, taken in the plane of the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail section, taken in the plane of the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the toggle switch.

My improved starting gate is associated with a track 11 having a slot 12 therein and electrical contacts 13 in the form of ribbons on the surface of the track on each side of the slot. A box-like structure 14 having a top wall 15, side wall 16 and bottom wall 17 is positioned below the track to support the starting gate 18. A shelf 19 is secured to the box-like structure 14 with a solenoid 20 supported between the shelf 19 and the bottom wall 17. The solenoid comprises a core 21 and a coil 22 for operating the starting gate 18. A plate 23 has a central extension 24 secured to the core 21 of the solenoid as by a pin 25. The plate also has guides 26 extending downwardly through apertures 27 in the shelf. A spring 28 encompasses the core .21 and extension 24 being positioned between the shelf 19 and a washer 29 for returning the starting gate to normal position when the current to the coil 22 is cut otf.

Four guide rollers 30 on each side of the plate 23 are mounted on shafts 31 journalled in the plate 23. The rollers have restraining flanges 32 to guide arms 33 and 34 between each set of rollers. The arm 33 slides on one side of the plate 23 and has an upwardly extending arm 35 bent to align with the plate 23. The arm 35 extends through a slot 36 in the top wall 15 of the box-like struc ture and the slot 12 in the track. The slot 36 limits the endwise movement of the arm 35. The plate 23 has an upwardly extending arm 37 extending through a slot 38 in the top wall 15 of the box-like structure and through the slot 12 in the track 11. The arm 34 on the other side of the plate 23 is guided on the rollers 30 and has an upwardly extending arm 39 extending through the slots 38 and 12. A toggle switch 40 is mounted on the plate 23 and has its operating lever 41 extending upward between a pair of lugs 42 and 43. The lever has an outward ex tension 44 to engage a tapered arm 45 on a bracket 46.

The model car is placed on the track between the arms 35 and 39. The arm 35 is pushed against the rear of the car causing the car and arm 39 to move forward with the arm 39 contacting the arm 37. As this movement takes place the lug 42 throws the lever 41 of the toggle switch forward to close an electrical control circuit for setting up a circuit controlled by a hand switch for energizing the track circuit through the ribbons 13. This control circuit sets up circuits for solo reaction, competitive reaction, solo drag, competitive drag, win circuit, position cars circuit and timer circuit. When the start circuit is energized and the hand switch is closed the solenoid 22 is energized and the gate descends rapidly to release the car held in the gate and the arm on the toggle switch contacts the arm 45 to reset the toggle switch and the current to the solenoid is broken, the spring 28 returns the arms to the starting position as shown in FIG. 2.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that cars of different structure will have their foremost portion lined up to give each car the same position on the tracks. While the drawings show one track, it will be understood that in the use of the starting gate, each layout will comprise several tracks and a starting gate for each track for competitive operation.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A starting gate for slot car racers comprising:

(a) a track having a guide slot therein,

(b) a supporting structure below said track,

(c) a solenoid mounted on said structure,

(d) a plate connected to said solenoid and being guided for vertical movement,

(e) adjustable arms endwise movable in relation to each other in a direction longitudinal of the track and connected to said plate extending upwardly through said slot in said track for positioning a racing car on said track between said arms, and

(f) electrical means for operating said solenoid to retract said arms to a position below said track to release said cars.

2. A starting gate for slot car racers as set forth in claim 1, including spring means for returning the arms to 3 normal position when the current to the solenoid is cut-off.

3. A starting gate for slot car racers as set forth in claim 1, wherein said endwise movement of the adjustable arms is in a horizontal plane to position a car between the arms and said endwise movement is limited by fixed abutment means.

4. A starting gate for slot car racers as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said adjustable arms is provided with means for operating a toggle switch to set up a control circuit for operating said solenoid when a remote circuit for energizing said car is closed.

5. A starting gate for slot car racers as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plate has an extension extending upwardly above the track to provide a fixed stop for the adjustable arms.

6. A starting gate for slot car racers as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said arms is provided with means for operating a toggle switch to set up a control circuit for operating said solenoid when a remote circuit is closed for energizing the operating circuit for the car and said supporting structure provided with a cam face for returning said toggle switch to starting position.

References Cited ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner THOMAS ZACK, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

